Which term refers to a boil; a painful nodule formed in the skin by inflammation originating in a hair follicle?

Which term refers to a boil; a painful nodule formed in the skin by inflammation originating in a hair follicle?

• A. Cryosurgery
• B. Capillary Action
• C. Exudate
• D. Furuncle

Answer: (D)

A furuncle is the term for a boil—a painful skin nodule that forms when an infection starts in a hair follicle and inflames the surrounding tissue. Typically caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, the process begins with folliculitis and progresses to a deeper pocket filled with pus and inflammatory material. This produces a swollen, red, and tender lump that may drain spontaneously. Cryosurgery is a treatment that uses extreme cold to destroy tissue, not the name of a skin lesion. Capillary action is the movement of liquid along a surface due to cohesive and adhesive forces, which isn’t about infections. Exudate refers to fluid emitted by tissues during inflammation; in a furuncle, pus is a type of exudate, but the condition itself is specifically called a furuncle.

A furuncle is the term for a boil—a painful skin nodule that forms when an infection starts in a hair follicle and inflames the surrounding tissue. Typically caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, the process begins with folliculitis and progresses to a deeper pocket filled with pus and inflammatory material. This produces a swollen, red, and tender lump that may drain spontaneously.

Cryosurgery is a treatment that uses extreme cold to destroy tissue, not the name of a skin lesion. Capillary action is the movement of liquid along a surface due to cohesive and adhesive forces, which isn’t about infections. Exudate refers to fluid emitted by tissues during inflammation; in a furuncle, pus is a type of exudate, but the condition itself is specifically called a furuncle.